A SUBSTANTIAL rise in turnout was recorded across the region last night after the trial in postal voting.

In Merseyside and Cheshire, the numbers polled had gone up by at least 10% in most areas and had even doubled at some counts compared to last year's figures.

Liverpool votes were slow to arrive in the post, but finally ended up at more than 33%, well ahead of last year's 21%.

The Liberal Democrats strengthened their hold on the city, with early indications that they would hold 60 seats. Council leader Mike Storey said: "It is remarkable that after six years of power we are still increasing our strength on the council."

Voter turnout increased in Wirral from 27% last year to over 43%. Early indications were that the council would remain hung, with Labour remaining in control as the Lib Dems gained ground.

Late votes caused major delays in the counts, particularly in Liverpool and Sefton, where last minute votes had to be gathered in from council one stop shops after 10pm and delivered to the counting stations. Both locally and nationally, Labour was suffering a night of setbacks.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "Iraq and the worries over Iraq have been a shadow over our support but in the end you have to take decisions that are right and you have to see them through."

In Sefton, Labour's Carol Gustafson, chairwoman of the Police Authority lost her seat to the Lib Dems.

In Knowsley, Labour was hit hard when the whole of Prescot turned Lib Dem. The Mayor, Michael Murphy, lost his seat in Whiston North to Lib Dem Michael Lapin.